TheCable

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says Nigerians must end the tension in the land and move the country forward.

Jonathan spoke on Friday after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The former president said he congratulated Tinubu on his victory at the supreme court adding that they spoke on the need for Nigeria to be positioned to lead the continent.

“We need to bring all our political leaders, including all our former presidents together. We will not be fighting, if top leaders continue fighting they will not suffer that much but the downtrodden will suffer,” he said.

“And we want to end that tension so we can move forward. Elections are over and so we must move forward.

Jonathan also said that Nigeria has all it takes to lead Africa despite the current economic challenges facing the nation.

“That is what all Africans are saying, I had a programme on democracy dialogue and Prof Lumumba spoke there, he emphasised the need for Nigeria to take a lead in Africa. Yes, we have challenges economically now but we still have what it takes to lead Africa,” he said.

“These are some of the issues I will continue to have conversations with Mr President on, including briefing him on all my foreign programmes.

“They are not personal issues, traditionally former presidents when they go outside the country for continental or regional programmes, and even some international ones. When You come home you brief the President, that is the tradition.

“Most times when you see me here that is what we come to do, to move Nigeria forward, to move ECOWAS forward and to move the African continent forward”, he said

“My visit would have taken place since last week but it couldn’t hold, it [my visit] has now coincided with the judgement of the supreme court of yesterday.

“It is an opportunity for me to also congratulate Mr President. We talked a lot about the country. You will see more of me because there are certain things we discussed and the country must move forward.”

Jonathan said he briefed the former president on his assignments in West Africa and the continent at large.

“Traditionally, former presidents, when they go outside the country for continental or regional programmes, and even some international ones. When you come home you brief the President, that is the tradition,” he said.

“Most times when you see me here that is what we come to do, to move Nigeria forward, to move ECOWAS forward and to move the African continent forward.”

The former president added that Nigeria would overcome its financial challenges.